Who'd've thought?

My mother returned home a couple of days ago after a week's visit that saw the usual round of culture - three films, a musical luncheon party and the ballet - which, good though it was, paled in comparison to her interest in Thomas. I thought it best to tell her about him before she heard anything at choir rehearsal and started giving me puzzled looks, little suspecting that she'd be full of questions ...

Trouble was, I was clearly nervous as hell as I started babbling almost the second I opened my mouth to tell her I'd met someone. She rather sweetly stemmed the flow by asking me his name. Next morning, as we were out shopping, I mentioned him in conversation, still trying to gauge how she was taking all this, and she promptly asked how on earth it was we'd met. Understandably, given his professional interests - he's a baseball umpire/photographer/pyrotechnic - she'd tried to work it out and failed.

Sometime earlier this week I mentioned I had to go round to his to check the post and forward anything urgent to him, not quite expecting her to tag along, even though we were on the way to the cinema at the time. I mean, this is the first time there's ever been any question of her meeting a partner of mine and now she was going to be in his flat. Still, it all bodes well.

He's back in under three weeks. Can't wait!